Clasp for straps, bands, or ribbons



R. KING. CLASP FOR STRAPS, BANDS, 0R RIBBONS. APPLICATION EILED JUNE 14,1919.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Burns KING, or PLAINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BUGBEE AND NILESCOMPANY, or NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSA-CHUSETTS.

CLASP FOR STRAPS, BANDS, OR RIBBOLTS.

Patented Ma. 22, 1921.

Application filed June 14, 1919. Serial No. 304,149.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, RUFUS I{ING, a citizien of the United States,residing at Plain: ville, in the county of Norfolk, State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inQlasps for Straps, Bands, or Ribbons, of whlch the following; is aspecification.

My invention is an improved clasp for fastening the straps, bands orribbons of wrist-matches or for similar uses The ob' j net of myimprovement is to provide a simpiified device for tl'iis purpose whichmay he more easily and conveniently clasped and unclas 'ied, and whichwill fasten the band in place with greater security. Further objccts ofthe improvement are to provide a clasp which is neat and ornamental 1nappearance; stanch and durable in use; and easier and more economical tomanufacture. The manner and means for carrying out these improvementsare fully described in the following specification illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, 111 which llke reference characters designatelike parts. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing the twocooperating parts of my improved clasp applied to the wrist-band orribbon 5 Fig. 2 is an enlarged planview of the main clasp-member;

Fig. 3 is a side View of the same; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken in avertical plane through both clasp-members, and showing; the latter inengaged relation;

Fig.5 is an enlarged plan view of the slo ted bottom-plate of the upperclaspmemher; and i F ig. 6 is an end View of the lower, cooperatingclasp-member.

Referring first to Fig. 1, my improved clasp or fastener comprises upperand lower cooperating parts; the main member G being, adapted forfastening to the looped end of the band or ribbon R, and the under slideS being formed to embrace the ribboirR and provided with spring-tonguesfor insertion through a slot in the upper member. is shown moreparticularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4: the main clasp-member C is constructed in two pieces consisting of a flat plate P formed with a loopor bail p at one end around which the end of the ribbon R is looped; anda top-shell or back D having its rim crimped or rolled over the edges ofthe plate P to fasten it in superimposed position thereon. Fig. 5 showsthe plate P in detail as cut away or slitted at one end to provide thecross-bar or hail p, and slotted laterally at u to provide the openingfor receiving the tongues 15-4 of the other claspmember S. The sides ofthe slot u are some what convex or bowed outwardly toward each other fora purpose as later explained, and it will be noted from Fig. 5 that theopposite, lateral edges of the plate 1? are formed with. V-shapednotches r -v into which the edges of the rim of the shell D are turnedto provide a more finished joint. As shown in Figs. 9., 3 and l, theshell D is of rectangular outline with its top formed flat, but it mayhave a convex or crowned shape if preferred. Referring particularly toFigs. and 4, the marginal rim (.5 takes a bevel shapearound the toppanel of the shell D, to enhance its artistic appearance, and the lowermarginal edge of the rim is rolled over the edge of the under plate P onthree sides as shown at (Z in Fig. 4;. At points adjacent the bail P theends of the rim (Z are turned into the notches oo so as toprevent roughedges, see Fig. 1. ()n the fourth side of the plate P the rim d is cutaway at its ends and fitted to a slot 19' cut into the edge of the plateopposite the bail p.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4: and 6 the slide-member S is constructedfrom sheetmetal in the form of a flat plate of rectangular outline, andis punched out to form side-strips s-s connected by opposite, lateralend-bars ss' and a central crossbar c. The metal strips cut away fromhot-ween the cross-bars as' and c are bent upwardly in two parallel,spaced tongues t t which serve as the spring-detents for fastening thetwo parts of the clasp together. As shown more particularly in Figs. 4and 6 the tongues are slightly crimped along their sides or howedinwardly toward each other to provide opposite detent-shoulders orledges LZ which snap across the edges of the slot in in the plate P tohold the parts together. The upper edges of the tongues t-t are roundedor beveled off to render them easier of insertion through the slot at inthe plate P.

The manner of applying, my improved strap to use is as follows:Referring to Fig.

1, the end of the band orribbon R is douother means bail 2) whichclasp-member or otherwise V fastened together to attach this part of theclasp in place. The opposite end of the ribbon R is then insertedthrough the slide S by passingit over the end-bars s's and under thecentral bar 6. This provides that the slide S may be slid along theribbon to adjust the length of the band in fastening it around thewearers wrist, but when the band is drawn tight the slide w'll beprevented from moving on the ribbon. The end of the band or ribbon Ropposite from the clasp C is usually provided with a loop or forfastening it to a lug or ear on the watch while leaving the clasp-endfree. This latter end is inserted through the opposite lug on the *atchand is then turned back and clasped to the slide S after the latter hasbeen adjusted in position to draw the band tightly around the wrist.

In clasping the two members C and S together it is only necessary toregister the tongues (f-e2 on the slide S with the slot u in the bottomplate P and to press the two parts together. The tongues r't will thusbe caused to spring together to enter their rounded ends through theslot a, and the detent-shoulders Z-Z will snap into engagement with theedges of the slot to hold the parts together. In this way the two partsof the clasp are securely fastened together against lateral orlongitudinal movement, while to unclasp the device it is only necessaryto pry the member C upwardly with the finger nail. This action causesthe tongues tt to be sprung together to release their shoulders ZZ fromthe sides of the slot u, and thus when either fastening or unfasteningthe clasp only a single simple movement of the hand is required. Theconvex form of the sides of the slot 24 in the plate P renders it easierto enter the springtongues t2f through the slot and also tends toprovide a better engagement between the parts to prevent lateraldisplacement thereof.

It will be observed that when the two parts of the clasp are fastenedtoget ier the shell or back Dof the member C completely covers the slideS and conceals the fasteningmeans, Moreover, the two parts arerelatively flat and in their clasped relation fit closely together so asto provide a particularly neat and unobtrusive appearance without thebulky or clumsy'effectof the usual devices of this kind. The smooth,beveled edges of the upper member 0 heighten the ornamental appearanceof the clasp, and it is to be particularly noted that there are no sharpcorners or projections to catch 'in the garments of the wearer. Asillustrated in Fig. 2, the artistic effect of the top of the clasp isheightened by an ornamental border a, and its central panel may befurther embellished with scroll-designs or initials engraved thereon.The complete device, while being ncater and more ornamental inappearance than the usual clasp, much simpler in construction,comprising a minimum number of parts which are strurk up fromsheet-metal, without requirsoldering. thereby tending to reduce the costof manufacture.

Various modifications might be made in the term and structure of theparts of my improved clasp without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention, therefore, without limiting myse t to the exactembodiment herein shown and described, what I claim is:

1. In a clasp ior strapslmnrls or ribbons of wrist-watchcs, or for likepurposes, the combination of a slide adapted for adjust ment on theribbon and provided with upstanding laterall v-- -xtending parallelspacedapart strips forming spring-tongues having deten' shoulders ontheir sides, oi a topzuembcr provided with an extended slot thro whichthe tongues on the shdc may be inserted to engage their dctent-shouldcrswith the edges thereof.

L. In a clasp for fastening the cnds oi straps, bands or ribbons, thecombination with a member provided with upstanding opposite parallelspring-tongues having dctent-shoulders on their sides, of a plate-likemember formed with a slot adapted to be snapped over the spring-tonguesto engage its sides with he shoulders thereof, and :1 hollow shellhaving its marginal edges bent down around the edges of the plate-memberto secure it in sugerimposcd position thereon.

3. In a clasp for fastening the ends of straps, bands or ribbons, thecombination with a slide having opposite end-bars and a aeutral crossbarover and under which the ribbon leads, said central bar formed withintegral upstanding parallel spring-tongues extending along its sidesand having detentshoulders on their opposite sides, of a platememberprovided with a lateral slot adapted to receive the spring-tongues withits edges engaged by the detent-shoulders.

4. In a clasp for fastening the ends of straps, bands or ribbons, thecombination of a plate nember formed with a relatively narrow slothaving opposite convex sides, and a second cooperating member havingupstanding parallel spring-tongues formed with oppositedetent-shoulders, said springtongues adapted for insertion through theslot of the plate-member to engage their shoulders with its convex sidesin the man ner and for the purpose substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

RUFUS KING.

